My theory of the DAT

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Shane41

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So this is for everyone that has high DAT scores but are getting rejected. Im absolutely no expert on this and my explanation is simply a theory. It seems that all of these "What are your scores questions" have more and more little importance.

I have heard this from people on the boards: "Your "A" doesnt mean as much with a low DAT score." This is not true. I got a 19 TS but an 17 AA because of my math section. I had calculus in high school and college not the SAT style math thats on the test. SCHOOLS NOTICE THAT!

Secondly, schools dont just want "nerds" for a better word. I have spoken with two deans and one of them actually said they want someone who has "fun" whether it be greek life or other avenues. They dont want a class of AA 22 and book worms. They want a diverse, cultural, intelligent class to represent them.

Letters of recommendation really help, extra curriculars really help and yes a good DAT average helps but my point is you need all three.

For example

Student 1: High DAT, Ok Letters or Rec, Not too many EC's

Student 2: Med DAT, Bad Letters of Rec, Lots of EC's

Student 3: Above Avg DAT, Great LOR, Lots of EC's

Assuming all of their gpas are good, student 3 will beat out student 1 in many schools, not all, but many and that may be why applicants with lower DAT scores are beating out higher ones.

The DAT is only a test. It does not contribute to my personality, my manual dexterity skills, and it slightly demonstrates how I will do in dental school. It is not everything and committees recognize this fact.

Good luck to all of you!

Any I have recieved an interview with !7/19/19 and SciGPA 3.77
 
I'm not going to agree or disagree with your theory since it is an opinion and your welcome to it, but I will say this about what you said.

Just cause a person gets a 21 or 22 or higher AA and TS doesn't suddenly make that person a bookworm or nerd. I think you're right that schools don't want every person in their class to be a bookworm, but I've seen plenty of bookworms with 17 and 18 scores.

Schools look for the 21 and 22s because the schools think it is an indicator of whether or not a student can handle the academic loads of dental school. A person with a 21 or 22 may have to study less than a person with a 17 in order to get passing grades in the academic courses (if the DAT really is an indicator of ability). There are plenty of people on these forums and in the real world who got in the mid 20s but still have a life. and there are also plenty who studied like obsessed maniacs and still only came up with average stats. Don't confuse grades with a lack of social skills. We all knew kids in high school and college who were major fun partiers but still flew through everything with As.
 
I'm going to have to go ahead and disagree there. I've sat down with several deans of the admissions committee, and yes they do want a diverse incoming class. I agree with the fact that they try and stay away from book-worms, but without decent numbers, you're not given the chance to shine in person.

On two separate occassions, I've been told to retake my DAT. And I quote, they said to me, "You know you're not a bad candidate, you just don't really stand out." After taking the reality-kick-in-the-a$$, I knew that I had to improve not only my grades, but my DATs as well. Of course I managed to get my grades even higher as well as pick up some extra curriculars, while re-scheduling my DAT. This in general should prove my dedication, but it still boils down to numbers. If you don't have what they're looking for, they'll just toss you aside until they find someone better.

I was greek in school, I held positions in the house, participated in multiple clubs, and organized a handful of philanthropies. I also owned my own DJ business. I have decent grades but a subpar DAT (AA17). I know that I have great letters of recommendation, but none of these things got me anywhere last year. People in my boat just have to suck it up, and continue with their education, re-take their DAT, and be more involved in the community or on campus.

And the rec letters can only hurt you. There's no way these things can actually help you out. Would you think a professor would actually say bad things about you?

my $0.02
 
I agree with you both, and i apologize for making a generalization about people getting really high DAT scores and being "booknerds." That's not what I wanted to say but it came out that way. I was trying to say that great grades and a great DAT needs to be accompanied with EC's. Because without them than yeah I think a candidate could be labeled as a booknerd. That was all that I meant by that. And I dont disagree that good DAT and grades dont help. Of course it does, Im just saying that its not the only thing...
 
Keep in mind that adcoms have the ridiculously difficult job of finding applicants who will not only succeed academically in school (gpas and DATs) but ALSO those who will be personable and compassionate practitioners.

This discussion reminds me of my roommate freshman year. He was dating the daughter of a dietician who told him to drink all the milk her could because it was good for him. So he only drank milk (more than a gallon a day!) and of course got sick. So the moral? Everything in moderation. If you're a well-rounded applicant you're going to make schools drool over you.
 
Keep in mind that adcoms have the ridiculously difficult job of finding applicants who will not only succeed academically in school (gpas and DATs) but ALSO those who will be personable and compassionate practitioners.

This discussion reminds me of my roommate freshman year. He was dating the daughter of a dietician who told him to drink all the milk her could because it was good for him. So he only drank milk (more than a gallon a day!) and of course got sick. So the moral? Everything in moderation. If you're a well-rounded applicant you're going to make schools drool over you.

well they've failed at their job because all I see are greedy uncompassionate immoral dentists...I keep telling myself that I'll become a good dentist and not trick people into coughing up $$ but a part of me is worried that MAYBE it's dental school that turns people into monsters
 
well they've failed at their job because all I see are greedy uncompassionate immoral dentists...I keep telling myself that I'll become a good dentist and not trick people into coughing up $$ but a part of me is worried that MAYBE it's dental school that turns people into monsters

It's becoming a trend among healthcare profs, especially in dentistry. I do not think that dentists trying to cough up $$ is necessarily bad, as they are trying to fulfill demand (even if they are trying to create demand by offering certain procedures, ie cosmetic). I think in a truly ideal society, healthcare would be free, but that is not true, especially for dentistry, where the profession is increasingly being handled more like a business. But I believe you can do both, earn $$ and be a compassionate practitioner.
 
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